Toggle-acting dispensing closure with impact resistance

Abstract

A toggle-acting dispensing closure which is resistant to inadvertent actuation during shipping and handling prior to purchase. A deformable resistance post is provided on the body of the closure and interferes initially with the pivoting of the actuator except when a substantially higher force than normally used to pivot the actuator is applied. After the first operation by applying the substantially higher force, the actuator may be operated by the application of a customary lower operating force to the actuator.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A toggle-acting dispensing closure which is resistant to inadvertent actuation during shipping and handling prior to purchase comprising: a body having a planar floor portion;   an actuator overlying the floor portion, defining a discharge opening and being pivotably mounted on said body for pivotal movement of the actuator on the body normally in response to a first force downwardly applied to said actuator at a first location on said actuator for movement of the actuator between a closed, non-dispensing position and an open dispensing position; and   deformable resistance post means opposite the discharge opening on said body and confronting a depending peripheral actuator portion, said resistance post means engaging said depending peripheral actuator portion and preventing movement of said actuator in response to the application of said first force at said first location, but permitting movement of said actuator in response to a substantially higher second force downwardly applied at said first location;   whereby when said second force is applied at said first location, said resistance post means will be permanently deformed by said depending peripheral actuator portion, and thereafter said actuator will move to said open dispensing position in response to the application of said first force.   
     
     
       2. A toggle-acting dispensing closure in accordance with claim 1 and wherein said actuator defines trunnions pivotally received in recesses in said body, and said resistance means is positioned oppositely from said discharge opening. 
     
     
       3. A toggle-acting dispensing closure in accordance with claim 1 and wherein said resistance post means defines a notch to receive a depending peripheral portion of said actuator. 
     
     
       4. A toggle-acting dispensing closure which is resistant to inadvertent actuation during shipping and handling prior to purchase comprising: a body;   an actuator having a depending portion and defining a discharge opening and being pivotably mounted on said body for pivotal movement of the actuator on the body normally in response to a first force applied to said actuator at a first location on said actuator for movement of the actuator between a closed, non-dispensing position and an open dispensing position, said actuator defining trunnions pivotally received in recesses in said body; and   upstanding deformable resistance means on said body and confronting said depending actuator portion, said resistance means defining a notch to receive said depending portion of said actuator, said upstanding resistance means being positioned oppositely from said discharge opening, said resistance means preventing movement of said depending actuator portion downwardly in said notch in response to the application of said first force at said first location, but permitting movement of said actuator downwardly in said notch in response to a substantially higher second force at said first location;   whereby when said second force is applied at said first location, said upstanding resistance means will be permanently deformed, and thereafter said actuator will move to said open dispensing position in response to the application of said first force.   
     
     
       5. A toggle-acting dispensing closure in accordance with claim 4, and wherein said depending actuator portion shears said resistance means in the zone of said notch when said second force is applied at said first location. 
     
     
       6. A toggle-acting dispensing closure in accordance with claim 5, and wherein said resistance means permits movement of said actuator only in response to a force which is about one and one-half times the first force.